More in the continuing series of the complete Haydn sonatas.

The eight early works of Haydn featured on this recording, though variously titled partita and divertimento, are sonatas in all but name. They are committed to the new sonata style of the mid-eighteenth century, most often comprising three movements, the dance elements of the suite and partita having receded to a secondary role. At the time of their composition, probably between 17545 and 1765, Haydn was Kapellmeister to Count Morzin. He entered the service of the Esterhazy family as Vice-Kapellmeister in 1761. Beyond this, and the speculation that they may have been performed by the composer at court or used as teaching pieces, it is impossible to reconstruct their biographical and social context. Unpublished in the composer's lifetime, the works survive in manuscript copies bearing attribution only to Haydn. Only a single work, Hob.XVI-6 survives in an autograph manuscript and this is undated.

Review:

"These are early works, almost all in three movements that show the composer experimenting with the elements he would later use so well in his piano sonatas Odiaga is a fluent player with a good feel for the shape and emphasis of Haydn's writing. I could not imagine these works better served. Her instrument is a good one, and the recording is unobtrusively excellent." (American Record Guide)